What's New in Blu? (Week of July 27)

“Johnny Handsome” (R)
Starring Mickey Rourke, Ellen Barkin, Elizabeth McGovern, Morgan Freeman, Forest Whitaker, Lance Henriksen
Directed by Walter Hill
A largely overlooked 1989 film from director Hill (“48 Hrs.”) is a violent, but entertaining take on the classic film noir genre. Rourke plays a disfigured criminal who is betrayed during a job by his gang, leading him to seeth in prison, where he receives plastic surgery to rebuild his face. This sets him out on the opportunity to craft a new identity and slowly plot his revenge. The tale of a wronged person getting revenge is hardly a new concept, but the good cast, led by Rourke in one of his last good performances until “Sin City,” (where he played another disfigured character) lifts the material, while Hill keeps the story moving forward swiftly.
Grade: B

Other releases:
“Clash of the Titans” (PG-13)
Starring Sam Worthington, Gemma Arterton, Mads Mikkelsen, Ralph Fiennes and Liam Neeson
Directed by Louis Leterrier

“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” (PG-13)
Starring Chow Yun Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, Chang Chen
Directed by Ang Lee

“Lock Up” (R)
Starring Sylvester Stallone, Donald Sutherland, John Amos, Darlanne Fluegel, Frank McRae, Sonny Landham
Directed by John Flynn

“Repo Men” (R)
Starring Jude Law, Forest Whitaker, Liev Schreiber, Alice Braga, Carice von Houten
Directed by Miguel Sapochnik